Henderson County, Illinois - The whole text, 1882 (part 5 of 23)

Oliver P. E^ierson, retired farmer, is a son of Edward and Sarah (Swaford) Emerson, and was bom in Wayne county, Indiana, June 17, 1817. He was reared on the farm, where he helped to clear up and make a home among the tall Indiana timber. In 1839. he came to Mercer county, Illinois, but soon returned to his father's home in Indiana. In 1840 he again came to this county, where he worked till 1842, when he went back to Indiana, and on Febniar}- 15th of the same year was married to Miss Sarah Kelly, a native of that place. In about 1847, with his family, he came to this county and permanently located and engaged in fenning and stock raising, following the business for many years. Mr. Emerson begun for himself, with but very Httle except a pair of willing hands and an industrious disposition, but by dint of hard work and good management, has accumulated a large farm, comprising over 600 acres, the most of which he has recently divided among his children. Plimself and wife have been life-long members of the Christian church. She died August 29, 1881, and is buried at the Xew Boston cemetery. His five li\-ing children are : Hester, wife of IMi-. Charles Dryden ; Monroe ; Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Alexander Calhoun ; George L. ; and Grind Y. , wife of Mr. William Prvne.

David Pardee, farmer, was born in Xew Haven countv, Connecticut, June 26, 1809. Early in life he served an apprenticeship at carj^entering. In 1831 he went to Xew Grleans, where he worked at his trade till 1840, when he came to Illinois and bought land near Tiola, in Mercer county, where he lived three years. At the time he bought his land he paid down a large part of the purchase money, agreeing to pay the balance out of money then due him, but which he failed to get, and consequently lost his land. He then came to Keithsburg and built a flat-boat in which to carry himself out of the country. After floating down the Father of Waters into Louisiana, he landed near Port Hudson, where he remained on his boat till by chance he met a friend of whom he borrowed a few dollars, went ashore and bought a suit of clothes, and then soon found work. In 1861: he again came to Mercer, purchased his present home in Sec. 14, T. 13, P. 5, Keithsburg townsliip, where he is now pleasantly located engaged in farming. Mr. Pardee has been twice married ; first, in Louisiana, to Miss Ellen Crenan, by whom he has three sons living in Kansas : Jf)hn, Thomas, and Josiah. His second marriage was with Miss Sophia Green, a native of Iowa, by whom he has three children living : Elbert F. , Stephen, and Ora May.

M.VRTIN Wirt was born in Ohio in 18*20. He was educated in the <?ommon schools of his native state. In 1840 he came to Illinois and settled on a farm near the ^'illage of Keithsburg, Mercer county, Illinois, and engaged in farming. June 11, 1850, he was married to Miss Esther Groves, a native of London, England, who was born January 24, 1831, and came to America in 1849. They became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living : Jane, wife of Fred Freter ; Ada C. , wife of J. Lester ; George G. ; Emma Y. , wife of A. L. Emerson ; Willie M., Maggie M., Fred. N. and Samuel, deceased. In 1868 Mrs. AVirt fidfilled a long cherished desire of her heart in returning to see her parents in the old home in England, where she remained on a visit six months. On August 5, 1879, Mr. Wirt died, leaving his aftectionate family a comfortable home.

JosEPHUS Wade (deceased), was born in Highland county, Ohio, Xovember 19, 1826, and spent his early youth on the farm. His education was such as could be obtained in the common schools. In 1840 lie emigrated with his parents to Llinois, landing at Keithsburg on December 4. October 16, 1851, he was united in marriage with

James Heaton

Miss Emily 1)., (Uiuglitor of .Tolni M. Nicholson, who was born in "Washington oonntv, Indiana, February IS, 1S33. In iSoH he permanently located in Keitli.sbiirg and engaged in the livery business, following the same thrfaigh life. He died at St. Anthony's Falls, Minnesota, August 1, iSfls, where he had gone with a view of improving his health. While there he was accompanied by his wife who brought ))ack his remains to Keithsburg for interment. Besides an affectionate and sorrowing wife, he left two living children. Two are deceased. The two living are John M. and Mary J. The former, born October 20, 1855, was married November 24, 1880, to Miss Mollie E. Cummins, a daughter of T. S. Cunnnins, Esq. lie died January 18, 1880, of consumption. Mr. Wade's only surviving child, Mary J., was bom in Keithsburg, January 13, ISfJl, and is living with her mother, and by the pleasant sunshine of her presence renders home very happy and agreeable. Mv. Wade's mother died in Keithsburg, January 20, 1882, and was at the time of her death the oldest person living in the town.

Among the 'few early settlers of Keithsburg townshi]) still remaining we find Mr. Benjamin L. Hardin. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 29, 1818, and is a son of Thomas and Polly Wilson Hardin. He was raised on a farm with only the advantages of a pioneer log cabin school, but where he enjoyed the means of fully developing his muscular powers in the- tall timber of Indiana. December 24, 1840, he married Miss Minerva, daughter of James (-ribson, Esq., of Indianapolis, Indiana, and the next year emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, and settled near where he now (1882) lives in the township of Keithsburg. After his first settlement in the new country he realized the lack of religious worship and soon engaged the services of a Methodist preacher to liold meetings at his cabin, which was continued till a more suital)le place could be provided. Suffice it say that to his energy and untiring zeal is largely due the prosperity of the chui'ch in this townshi]). Mr. Hardin has reared a family of nine children, all living: William, now farming in Iowa; Joseph W.. now farming in Iowa ; James A., also fai-ming in Iowa ; John P., at home; Alvis, on a farm in Keithsburg; Thomas, Lava, Perry and Frank, at home. Mr, Hardin's farm of 3f)(> acres is located in Sees. 11 and 12, T. 13, R 5.

Among the early settlers who came to Mercer county, Illinois, may be mentioned the name of William S. Emerson, who was 1)oi'n in AVayne county, Indiana, Jamuiry 15, 1822. He is the fourth child of Edward and Sarah (Swaford) Emerson, living with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he commenced fai'iniug for himself on II a small scale, in wliicli business he lias been engaged ever since, having accunuilated considerable property, lOo acres in section 11, ninetj- acres in section 10, and fortv-eight acres in section 10 of the neM^ survey. He came to Mercer county, Illinois, during the year of ISlrl, leaving his parents and his native state for the purpose of securing him a home in the valley of the Mississippi, where so many have accumulated wealth from its fertile soil. November 13, 1845, he was married to Delila Hurst, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, February 15, 1828. They have had seven children, five of whom are living and two dead : Edward L. was born August 18, 1846 ; William E., February 10, 1850 ; Francis M., May 8, 1852 ; Lynden, August ly, 1857 ; Thomas H., April 16, 1861 ; Xettie F., October 22, 1865 ; Ida May, June 25, 1870. Edward L. is married to Miss Ella Gailey, and is at present practicing medicine in New AVindsor, Mercer county. Lynden is married to Miss Emma Wirt, and is engaged in farming. Francis M. and Nettie are dead. Thomas and Ida remain at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Emerson has always been a republican. He has been a member of the Christian church since twenty-two years of age.

Henry G. Calhoun, fourth in a family of ten children, by Thomas and Jane (Gray) Calhoun, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 31, 1820. He was reared on his father's tarm, obtained a common school education, learned the cooper's trade, and after working at that three or four winters took up with carpentering. In 1844 he left the home of his childhood and embarking at Wheeling came by river to Keithsburg, landing here on the fifth of April. He worked three years at carpentry, and meantime, June 10, 1846, was married to Miss Sarah J. Brown, who died ten months afterward, leaving twin daughters, one of which lived a year, while the other, Sarah Jane, is yet living and is the wife of AVilliam S. McCormick, of Ohio Grove townshi}). From 1847 to 1849 Mr. Calhoun was clerking for Messrs. Noble tic Gayle. After that he was in the employ of Abrani liife for some time, and while engaged wath him was married again to Mrs. Julia A. Hubbell, November 29, 1849. In October of the same year he opened the Calhoun house and conducted it over two years, and in the same time he im})roved a farm of eighty acres near the town. In 1853 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace and was api)ointed deputy recorder, and also held tlie a])pointment of notary i)ublic. He was thus engaged in ]iublic l)usiuess foi- eight years. Septeml)er 30, 1861, he enHsted in coinpany (t, 30th 111. Vn]., and was elected and connnissioned first lieutenant of lii> (-()mi)any. lie was taken prisoner September 1, ls62, at Brittain's Lane, Tennessee, and having been paroled on the IHth he resigiK'<l and came home broken down in health. Since that time he has been variously engage<l in building, clerking, book-keei)ing and canvassing. Mr. Calhoun is prominent in the Masonic order. In December, 1850, he was made a Mason in Kobert Burns Lodge, No. 113, A.F.A.M., and in October, 18.51, he took the chapter degrees in Horeb Chapter, No. 4, R.A.M., at Knoxville, and in June, 1880, the degrees in Galesburg Gommandery, No. 8. He has filled all the offices in the lodge and the cha|)ter, and has been a representative to the grand lodge at two different periods, first in 1850 and at a subsequent time four consecutive years, in each of which last he held the appointment of district deputy grand master. lie was also a member of one of the standing committees seven or eight years from the expiration of his service as representative. Mr. Calhoun was originally a whig. On the dissolution of that party he, with the Hon. John S. Tliom})Son, was the first to take active measures looking toward the organization of the republican paitj in Keiths))urg townshi]), and he is still as ardent as ever for the success of the same party. By his second marriage he has two daughters : Josephine Louisa and Augusta Belle. The latter is the wife of C. A. Mertz.

Jacob Wolfe was born in the State of Maryland, near Harper's Ferry, October 10, 1792. His parents moved to the State of Ohio in 17J>8 and settled twelve miles south of Dayton, near Germantown. May Yount, his wife, was born in the State of North Carolina May 9, 1797, near the Shallow Ford on the Yadkin river. Her parents removed to ( )hio and settled in the same neighborhood. They were married in the State of Ohio in 1814, moved to Indiana in 1822, and raised a family of nine children. The mother died ( )ctober 19, 1838, and the father August 23, 1861. W. AVolfe, son of the above, was born in the State of Ohio, July 22, 1816, and his 'sdfe, Rebecca Marlatt, in the State of Yii-ginia, November 14, 1816. They were married in Wayne county October 19, 1839. In 1844 they moved t(» Mercer county, Illinois, landing here on the 23d of October. At that time there was but one house on what was called the Prairie road from Henderson Grove to the bluff", and that was a small frame. There was then only a track where the horses walked, and prairie grass was as high as the horses' backs. There were then only a few families in the bottom, and not a house could be seen from the bluft" to Keithsburg. At that time there was not what couhl be ])roperly called a house where Keiths])urg now is. He says the first time he was in town he «aw Bill Brewer shooting ducks where now stands the Birch building^ owned by T. B. Cabeen and occupied as a drug store. There was then only one small frame house ])artly tinished and sided half wav up.

Tlie town iin}»roved, and built up smartly in a short time. He recollects being ]>resent at the tirst trial of any importance that was liad in the }»laee. The newly-elected justice, by the name of Garner, was the court. The parties to the suit were G. Mossman, plaintitt", and I. Lakey and I. Raynolds, defendants. Tlie attorneys were B. C. Taliaferro, for the plaintiff, and C. M. Harris, of Oquawka, for the defendants. In the course of the trial there was some trouble as to the admissibility of some evidence. The attorneys argued their points before the court. When one of them would get through, the court would admit the e\'idence. Then the other attorney would make a speech showing the case in a different light, when the court would exclude the evidence. It went on so for some time, when the attorneys as well as the court became much excited and one of the attorneys used enough to collect the tine.'' He says New Boston was a town when he came here. He went over to see the town and the Mississippi. There was quite a crowd there, and every man carried a gun and was followed by one or more dogs. Most of the men wore the coon-skin, cap with the tail hanging down the back. After Mr. Wolfe had been here some time he thouglit he would look around some and see the country. He was anxious to see some timber. These bluffs were comparatively bare of timber at that time. The first growtli had been cut off, and he was told of Sugar Grove, north of Aledo, which was represented as nice timber as heart could wish, so he struck out for the gi'ove. On the road to this settlement were then the cabins of H. Biggs, Eb. CVesswell and N. Edwards. The last named is north of the road and is still standing. Another was unoccupied. At the grove he found the Millers, and they were anxious to sell out. They had the Oregon fever badly, but he did not like the location. Mr. Wolfe finally bought in the bottom where he now lives.

l*rominent am<^)ng the young business men of this town, who have by industry and good management succeeded in making a pleasant home and building up a j)ros})erous business, may be mentioned Mr. Joseph Venabi.e. He was born in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, April 2, 1848. Ill ls.")<'). in com])any with his mother and her family, he embarked on the sailing vessel New Australia for America. Soon after their arrival they settled in Mercer county, Illinois. At the age of twenty he commenced work as an apprentice with Mr. Charles Clark, in the shop he now owns, and in wliich he keeps six steady workmen and is turning out a su|)erior class of wagons, carriages and other farm machinery. November !<!, 1S05, he was married to Miss Sarah Ivrenier, a native of PeJinsylvania. They have a family of three children, Frederick L., Harry C. and Joseph C He is a member of Mercer Lodge, Xo. 210, I.O.O.F., and also of the encampment.

The Xoble Family. - ]\Irs. Harriet W. Xoble, who is the widow of James A. Xoble, was born in Danville, Columljia county, Pennsyl- \'ania, September 22. 1830. She is the daughter of Frederick and Nancy A. Frick. She was married to Mr. Xoble June 20, 1849. They liad born to them seven children (Alice F. and Harry F. dead). The living are Kate A., Ida J.. Hattie X., James L. and M. Adella. Kate, the eldest child, is postmistress at Keithsburg, and has served in that capacity for about twelve years, and it may not be out of place to say, in this connection, tliat in everv i)articular she has been a model officer. Tlie ability with which Miss Xoble has lilled her im^iortant ])lace t)f tiiist proves, beyond the possibility of a doubt, that woman is (pialitied as well as man to liohl positions of responsibility. Hattie has been deputy postmistress for a good many years, and she, also, in connection another hidy, can-ies on a millinery establisliment. Tlie home of Mrs. Xoble and tamily is a pleasant and desiral)le one. Mr. Xoble died March 3, 1862, which place<l the responsibility of rearing their family of small children upon the mother, and the result })roves that ehe was equal to the emergency. Mrs. Xoble is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Among the business men of Mercer county none occu[)ies a more tiidy honorable position than WiiLLL\it Gayle. The thoughtless masses bestow hasty credit u})on men who have only climbed the hill of fortune; but it may be necessary to pass down the sharp declivity on the other side, in the face of all who know them, to discover the proportion of i)ure gold in their characters. Mr. Gayle is a conspicuous example of that class who have trod the wine-i)ress of business prosperity an<l adversity, and whose rugged qualities of integrity and fortitude luive been proven by .severe trial. He is a native of Fi-ankfort, Kentucky, where he was born August IH, 1819, of })arents descended from purely English ancestry, that settled in this country prior to the Revolution. In the autumn of 1845 he formed a partnership with James A. Xoble, with whom he had been co-clerk in Louisville, and this firm of Xoble & Gayle brought a stock goods at once to Oquawka and (opened out in trade. The following si)ring they divided their business, and Mr. Gayle came to Keithsburg with half their stock and began selling goods on the first day of May. This shortly proved to be a superior location, and the next fall the senior partner came here from Oquawka and the business was consolidated in this place. Early in 1850 Mr. Noble witlidre-sv. and his place wastaken % Mr. Gayle's brother-in-law, R. H. Alvis, of Henderson^ Kentucky, who was a partner two years. Before his retirementv B. F. AYilson, who had been clerking in the house a number of years^ was ffiven a small interest and continued with Mr. Gavle until the crash of 1857, when the latter failed with assets five-fold greater than his liabilities. The exceeding stringency of affairs caused his complete financial ruin. Declining all offers of assistance, he at once engaged in clerking, first in St. Louis and afterward in Keithsburg, and was so employed until 1871 when he again started in trade on his own account, and is now firmly established and doing a large business in grain, flour, coal, lime and cement. Mr. Gayle was liberally educated, chiefly under the priyate tuition of his father, George Gayle, who was a scholar of 'scientific and classical attainments. He is a man who enjoys an unconscious exaltation in being always kind and accommodating to all men. September 7, 1851, he was maiTied to Miss Margaret A. Ungles, who has been the mother of ten children by this marriage, four of whom are liying.

Allen F. Glo\t;r, tailor, oldest child of Silas and Mary (Robertson) Gloyer, is a native of Abbeville, South Carolina, where he was born June 17, 1823. At the age of ten he emigrated with his fathers family to ( )hio. At Fairhaven he learned the tailor's trade,, and in 184-2 he left the state and the following year settled at Oquawka. In the spring of 1848 he removed to Keithsburg. and next year was married to Miss Sarah L., youngest daughtQi- of Jesse and Christinia Brewer. Her birtlqjlace was Wayne county, Indiana, where she was born in 1^27. Her parents were originally from North Carolina, and came to this county in 1835 and settled on the farm now owned by Solomon Wolf, northeast of Keithsburg. This wife died without issue in 1850, and three years afterward he was married a second time to Miss Minerva Catlin, who bore him six children and died in 1873. In 1854 Mr. Glover removed to Wisconsin, staying there two years. During some eighteen years after his return he was tending grocery store as clerk ; since that time he has worked at his trade. About eii^ht vears aijo lie united with the Methodist church and is now one of the stewards. He has been a member of Mercer Lodge. Xo. 210, I.O.O.F. ; he has jjassed all the chairs and been representative to the grand lodge. In 1864 he was ''raised"* in Robert Burns Lodge, No. 113, A.F.A.M.. and has been Secretaiy of that lodge since. He has been elected to the offices of assessor and justice of the peace ; the latter proving distasteful lie resigned it. lie affiliates politically with the republicans. His children have been Irene, who died at the

John Heaton was born at Xenia. Oliio, November 2, 18(»4. His father was John, son of Jonah Ilcatoii of Bryant's Station, Kentucky, who was from Connecticut, and who. history says, made the first gun ever manufactured in the former state. Jouali's son John was educated by his uncle Daniel, and was a prominent man in his county, holding the office of county commissioner anfl justice of the peace for twenty-two consecutive years. James Ileaton worked at and thorouglily learned the trade of his father, that of a bhicksmitli and gunsmith. In the spring of 1820 (May 25), he was married to Miss Nancy Henry, daughter c^f William Henry, who was a lirst cousin to Patrick Henry, of Virginia. It may be proper here to state that while Patrick was a democrat of the Jefferson school, William was a federalist and did not sym])athize with him as his descendants have done. Mrs. Heaton is a woman of great practical ability and native good sense, who believes that the patent of real royalty belongs to those who do right and live by industry. They have lived a long and useful life. Fifty-six years have tliey passed together, and in this time reared a large family of children : John, of Red Bluff, California, the eldest, and William Henry, the second child, now of Keithsburg, being the only sons of six born to them now living. George died in Texas at the age of forty-three ; James at the age of eleven ; Chauncy, when eight months old ; and his twin Ijrother Oliver at the same age. Their six daughters are all living. These ai'e : Sarah Salisbury, at Red Oak, Iowa ; ^Maria Adair, in Hutcliinson county, Dakota ; Marienne Phares, at Keithsburg (with whom Mr. and Mrs. Ileaton make their home); Margaret Ilanna, at Fort Scott, Kansas; ]^[attie Hanna, at Ocpiawka ; and Sippie Wolff, at Clarinda, Iowa. Mr. Ileaton was a great lover of stock, and when first married fenced a tract of 3,000 acres on the head of the Little Miami river in Clark county, Ohio, where he kept in pasture several thousand head of cattle. In 1836 he came to Edgar county, Illinois, and engaged in lousiness. In 1842 he moved to the New Purchase in Iowa. In the fall of 1843 he came to Henderson county, Illinois, opposite the tlien small town of Burlingtctn. In the spring of that year he settled on a farm on the Ellison, in Warren county, and the same season Ixnight the farm where the to\vn of Ellison now stands. In the fall of 1848, wanting better facilities for schooling his children, he came to Keitlisburg, where he lived till the s})ring of 1852, when he moved to Bald Bluff. There he and his boys made a large farm and gratified that old love of stock by raising cattle, hogs and horses. In 18<>;s William went to Abingdon,

Knox county, and the next year (leorge went to Texas. It was then that he gave u\) the farm and nio\ed to Keithsburg, where he now has a pleasant home and varies his exercise e\ery day with a walk down town. He is perhaps the best known man in the count}'. He has always lived a quiet, unassuming life, has worked hard and aimed to deal fairlv with all who huve had intercourse with him. He is in religion a predestinarian Ba})tist, in politics a democrat, having cast his tirst vote for Andrew Jackson in 1828, and adhered to that school ever since. Like most of the early settlers, Mr. Heaton's home was tlie abode of hos|)itality, and friend or stranger who came his way was alike M-elcome to share its refreshments. In his old age he still retains his love of society, and enjoys recounting the incidents and adventures of the past. This worthy couple are never happier than when their house is full of their children and grandchildren, of whom they have a great number.

Jerome A. Swezy, deceased, was born in Go.slien. ( )range county, 'New York, August 15, 1815. He removed to Quincy, Illinois, in an earl}^ day, and was there niamed to Miss Mary J. Atkinson October 12, 1843. He removed to 0(|uawka in 184<!, where he engaged in merchandising till 1850, when he started on an overland tri}> to California taking with him two four-horse teams and twelve men. He remained in California till the following December, when he started home via the Isthmus, on a passenger steamer. At Grenada. Centi-al America, he was taken down with a severe fever and remained there till the following June. When he reached his home he wa.s still in feeble health, and with a view to impro\ing it, went with his wife to his boyhood liome in jS^ew York. In 1852. hining regained his health, he returned and settled in Keithsburg. During his thirty years residence here, he was in business as book-keeper, shipper, lumber and real estate dealer. He died March 26, 1882. His wife and six children survive him. The latter are : Emma, \vife of C. T. Combs; Jessie C. ; Somerville E., wife of H. C. Cook, whose biography follows ; HattieE. ; Georgia A.; and Hub er.

Henry Chalmers Cook was born in McConnellsburg, Pennsyh'ania, February 7, 1856, where he grew to manhood. He served an apprenticeshi]) of three years in the office of the "Fulton Kepublican"" at McConnellsburg. In 1876 he came to Illinois and for three years worked dt his trade of printer at Princeton. In the spring of 1879 he came to Keithsburg, where he engaged as foreman in the ''News" office for W. H. Heaton. In June, 1881, he formed a partnership with R. Wolfe and started the ' ' Keithsburg Times. " In December following he sold his interest to his partner and returned to his former place in the "News'"' office. August 19, 1880, he was united in marriage w^th Miss Swezy. They have one child, Michael Jerome, born September 14, 1881.

WiLLi.ui D. Reynolds, stock dealer, was born in Pennsylvania, September 14, 1841. His parents, William C. and Catharine A. (Tiger) Reynolds, removed to Mercer county in 1846. and settled in Ohio Grove township, where they early became identified with the affairs of the county. Mr. Reynolds, Sr., remained here till the spring of 1882, when he sold out and went to reside with his daughter in Iowa. Young William received his education at the pioneer schools of this county's early history, as well as a thorough knowledge of farm labor. In 1861 he responded to the President's call for men to preserve the honor of their country's flag and became a member of company A, 30th reg. 111. Yol. Inf During the service he was twice wounded, first at Belmont, Missouri, and afterward at Fort Donelson, -and was soon after discharged on account of disability. He was married February 11, 1869, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Lewis and Maria Sponsler, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Mercer county in 1860. They are the ])arents of six children living: Maud E., Clara A., Lora E. (died March 22, 1882), Lewis G., Guss, Glenn, and Lucv. Mr. Revnolds is now a resident of the town of Keithsburg, but expects to I'emove to his farm of 160 acres in Edwards county, Kansas.

John J. Hawkins, retired farmer, was born in Bath county, Kentucky, September 7, 1 829, and is the sou of Thomas and Malinda Hawkins. In 1847 they came to Illinois and settled in Abington town- islii]", Mercer county, wliere lie engaged in funning. December 1, iSoO. he was united in marriage with Miss Maria E., daughter of Russell Wordin. Esq., an early settler of Mercer county. She was born in the State of New York, June 7, 1831. They are the parents of tliree children, as follows : Lucy, wife of Mr. A. F. Winslow, who is a conductor on the Central Pacilic i-ailroad and resides at Ogden, Utah ; Alvis T., and Albert D., on the farm neai- Keithsburg. They are both members of the ]\Iasonic fraternity. Mr. Hawkins is a member of liobei-t Burns Lodge, JS'o. 113, Illinois Chapter, No. IT, and Galesburg (V)mman(lerv, No. s. A few years after his marriage Mr. Hawkins removed to the north ])art of Henderson county, where he lived till 1878, when he took up his residence in Keithsburg. By hard work and honest industry he has accumulated, besides his town property, 466 acres of farming land.

Edward Ott, blacksmith, was born in Henderson county, Hlinois,. March 23, 1848, and was left an orjthan when about eleven years old. Li December, 1862, when but a little over fourteen years of age, he^ enlisted in the war for the Union as a member of the 12tli Illinois cavalry and followed the fortunes oi' war till May, 1866. On returning home he engaged in the butcher business, but soon after turned hisattention to learning the trade of blacksmith and permanently located in Keithsburg. February 26, 1875, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Hall, of Henderson county, Illinois. They have two children : Mary C. and William C.

Thomas Marlatt, retired farmer, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, September 12, 1824. His father was a farmer and reared his children to that hardy and honorable occupation. Mr. ]\Iarlatt obtained such an education as the common schools of his boyhood days afforded. At the age of twenty-one he began for himself at farming. In 1849 he caiiie to Mercer county, wliere he permanently located and engaged in farming and stock raising. February 2, 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline, daughter of James M. and Elizabeth (Ellis) Dryden. She was born in Highland county, Ohio, September 4, 1834, and came to Mercer county in 1853. Thej are the parents of xVlta I., Adella V., Jessie F.. and two children deceased. On August 17, 1870, Mr. Marlatt met with a painful misfortune, this being no less than the instant loss of his eyesight, caused by a kick in his face from a nnile. The following year he gave u]> farming and took up his residence in Keithsburg, where he is now (1882) enjoying the comforts of a very ])leasant home. Early in life he became a member of the United Brethren church ; in 1853 was. licensed to preach, and is now a member of Illinois annual conference,.

His parents are of English and German ancestry, and were born in Burkley county, Virginia. The father, Thomas Mariatt, was born in April, 1792, and the mother, Miss Elizabeth Bellar, in 1799. They reared a family of twelye children : seyen sons and fiye daughters. In 1823 they remoyed to AVayne county, Indiana, where they resided till the time of their death after a life of industry and usefulness. He died in March. 1877, and she in March, 1875. They were consistent members of the United Brethren church.

Thomas S. Cl'mmins, justice of the peace, notary, and insurance agent. Keithsburg. was born February 23, 1836, in Xew Concord, Muskingum county, Ohio, and was the son of Dayid'R. and Sarah (Speer) Cummins. In 1851 the family sold their home and embarked at AVlieeling, Virginia, and came by riyer transportation to Keithsburg. arriving in April. They liyed that summer in Ohio Groye township, where Mr. Cummins had an uncle, Richard Cummins, who had emigi'ated as early as 1836 and was one of the first settlers. Most of the family fell sick of the ague, and getting dissatisfied with the country, returned in the fall to Ohio. They remained there but two weeks, when they turned their faces again to the west and came to Granyille. Putnam county, Illinois. Xext summer their experience with ague was repeated, and when autumn came they were so much disheartened by the gloomy situation and prospect that they went back again to their old home in Ohio, where they I'emained till 1851. That year they came to Keithsburg, this time by team, and Mr. Cummins has liyed in Mercer county since. He was engaged from that time till 1866 as warehouseman and shipping clerk. From that year till 1873 he was constable ; he was then elected justice of the peace and has held the office continuously until this time. He has been notary public since 1871 ; township clerk since 1873, excepting in the year 1877, and yillage clerk the last two years. In 1871 he began doing an insurance business, and now represents the Home company of New York. His marriage with Miss Martha Knight was celebrated Sej^tember 3. 1857. Their two daughters are Mary Etta and Maggie Belle. The former is the wddow of John M. Wade, recently deceased ; she and her mother are communicants in the Methodist church. Mr. Cummins has always taken much interest in local politics and is a liberal-minded -democrat.

Ai.yis Hardin was born in Mercer county, Illinois, September 20, 1852. He is the son of B. F. and Minerya Hardin. He was married to Miss Xettie Doak January 1, 1882. Mrs. Hardin is the daughter of Matthew and Sarah A. Doak. Mr. Hardin is a farmer.

Kkithsiurg Townshii'

In tlie fall of 1853 Ciiarle-s J. Simpson came from Ohio and permanently located in the village of Keithsburg, where he now enjoys the comforts of a jDleasant home, lie was born in Preble county, Ohio, Feb. ruary 22, 1823. He is a son of Aaron and Hannah (Smith) Simpson, who were natives of Xew Jersey, and are of Scotch and English ancestry. He was bred a farmer. May 2, 1814, he married Barbara, daughter of John and Dorothea (Mowen) Beaver. She was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1827. In 180O Mr. Sim]>- son began the practice of veterinary surgery in which he has had good success. They have four children, Laura, Daniel A., who has a brilliant war record, William B., and Pauline G. wife of E. Loosley. Mr. Simpson is a member of the I.O.O.F., lodge Xo. 210.

John Dunn, butcher, was born in Pennsvlvania Februarv 1, 1814. and is a son of Amos and Catherine (Cameron) Dunn. In 1853 he with his parents embarked on the steamer New York at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for Keithsburg, Illinois, and made the entire trip without change. They at once went to Ohio Grove township where they purchased a farm and began to make a home for themselves. They lirst camped out till they could build a cabin. Here John grew up to manhood with but little means of obtaining an education. In August, 18f)2, he enlisted in company G, 102d 111. Vol. Inf., and for the next three years devoted his time in the defense of his country's flag. At the battle of Resacca, Georgia, he was wounded in the hips and was placed in the hospital for treatment, from which he was discharged June 22, 1865, and returned to Keithsburg. March 21, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Maria McPherren, who was born in Suez township, Mercer county, March 1, 181-3. They are the parents of Catharine P., Amos D., and Thomas, and three deceased. After his marriage Mr. Dunn engaged in farming, but on account of his wound disabling him for farm labor he abandoned farming and bought an interest in a coal mine and .five years later sold out and came to Keithsburg, where he still resides engaged in the butcher business. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., lodge No. 210.

PoBERT C. Humbert, merchant, is a son ol' Emanuel and Frances (McPeynolds) Humbert ; was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, January 26, 1831 ; removed with his parents to Fountain county, Indiana, when about three years of age, where at the age of sixteen he became an apprentice as bricklayer and plasterer. In 1853 he came to Mercer county, Illinois, and engaged in working at his trade in Keithsburg till 1857, when he became a merchant in the dry goods line, following the business till 1864. At that time l\Ir. Humbert arranged to go west as far as Montana. His object was partly speculative but more particularly for tlie benefit of an invalid brotlier-in-law. George Gore, who was suffering with that dreaded disease consumption, who while there regained his health. On their way out they purchased a stock of goods which they afterward lost, being attacked by Indians and robbed. The next year Mr. Humbert returned to his home in Keithsburg where he has since had a continuous residence, except three years spent on his farm in Henderson county. November 26, 1857. Mr. Humbert was united in marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of Pliilip Gore, Esq., an early settler of this county. She was born in Maryland, January 31, 1839. They are the parents of seven children: Harry P., George C, Edward E., James F., Fannie D., Bart G., and Robert R. Mr. Humbert is a member of Robert Burns Lodge, Xo. 113, Illinois Chapter, Xo. IT, imd Galesburg Commandary, Xo. 8.

John C. Humphrey, harness maker, is a native of Columbiana Ohio, and was born February 12, 1827. He was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools of his native state. In 1854 he made a trip to California, where he remained nearly three years. Soon after his return home he came to Iveithsbura;, and in company with Mr. Samuel Evans, engaged in the business he now follows. September 2, 1858, he married Miss iVmanda, daughter of Jacob Wolf, a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, who with her ])arents came to Illinois in 1856. They are the parents of eight children: Mary, Harry W., Willis M., Ida, Ernest L., Mark J., Edward F., and Eva B.

Clarence S. Frick, grain dealer, is a son of Benjamin P. and Annie E. (Stewart) Frick, who are well known and prominently connected in this county. He was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, -January 2, 1848, and came to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1855, with his parents. His education was principally obtained m Keithsburg, though he attended several terms of high school in M(jnmouth, Illinois. In 1872 he engaged in merchandising and grain buying in Keithsburg. under the firm name of C. A. Frick A: Bros. He was also for a time connected with the Farmers" Xational Bank, of this ]:>lace, as bookkeeper. In 1881 he began his present business of buying and shipping o;rain. February 2, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Xellie EUett, a daughter of Benjamin D. and (JrjJia (Myers) Ellett, early settlers of Keithsburg. They have one child, George Henry, bom February 17, 1870. Mr. Frick is a member of Mercer Lodge, Xo. 210, I.O.O.F.

Captain Wycofl^'s father was born in Allegheny county, Penns}'!- vania, in 1703, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife was a Miss Susan Peairs. Soon after his marriage he removed to

Muskingum county, Ohio, where he reared a family of nine children, two sons and seven daughters. lie died in 1857, and his old and honored wife is still (1882) living at her old home in Ohio. Our subject, Captain J. P. Wyooff, is eldest son and second child. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, September 18, 1819, and was reared on the farm with but limited educational advantages. December 23. 1840, he was- united in marriage with Miss Matilda Davis, of the same county. Her parents were Samuel and Mai-y (Geyer) Davis, who were also natives of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. The year after his marriage Mr. Wycoif removed to Allen county, near Fort Wayne, Indiana, and settled in the tall timber, and there hewed out for himself a home on land previously entered by his father. In 1855 he bought a farm in Sec. 11, T. 13, R. 5, Keithsburg township, and in 1856 sold his home in Indiana and moved to his new home, which he has since built up to be one of the most pleasant in the county, and contains 2 HO acres. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in company G, 102d reg. 111. Vol. Inf., to which he was at once elected captain, but in December of the same year was forced to resign on account of sickness. Mr. Wycoif has been a member of the Presbyterian church since the age of seventeen and an elder for the past tliirt}' years. He has one son (an only child), Albeit P., born January 1, 1842. His means for obtaining an education were quite limited, but by extensive reading, and being a close observer, he has gained a good business education. October 17, 1861, he was married to Miss Myra, daughter of George -and Xancy (Maxfield) Jay. She was born in Mercer county, Illinois, November 29, 1843, and is one of this county's literary ladies. They have a family of three interesting children: Earl J., Lura D.. and Ethlin Fern. They are membei's of the MethocUst Episcopal church and take an active part in its affairs.

To the soldier who dared death that a great nation with all its legitimate institutions might live, not only belongs i)raise, but the gratitude of a whole people. The })ages of future history will not shine with examples of generalshij) alone, but the captain, his subordinates and privates, who fought in the thickest cai'nage, will lend their light to future heroes. Captain M. Holsted, son of David and Nancy (Allshaver) Hoisted, was born in Oneida county, New^ York, Julv 10, 1832. He resided on a farm till fifteen vears of age, receiving a common school education. He early engaged in the manufacture of brick. In 185U he became foreman of the Cleveland cV: Ohio Pailroad Construction Comi)any, and soon after became a contractor. In 1856 he canu' to Illinois. In ISCI, when war's cruel tongue called for soldiery, he, in company with Col. R. G.

Ingersoll. recruited the lltli reg. 111. cavalry. Col. Ingersoll receiving the command. In 1882 Mr. Hoisted aided in raising the 85th reg. 111. Vol. Inf.. whose commander was Col. Moore. Mr. Hoisted volunteered as 1st lieutenant. For heroic conduct at the battle of Stone river. Gov. Yates commissioned him captain. At the battle of Chickamauga he was wounded, necessitating his resignation. For four months he w'as unable to feed himself; for one year he was unable to step up six inches high, and disabled for work a year longer. After regaining his health he resumed contracting, this time on the Toledo, Peoria 6z AVarsaw railroad. In ll^TS he came to Keith sburg, and, in company with J. K. Hornish, contracted to build the Keithsburg t^ Eastern narrow-gauge railroad, which, on account of the financial crash of 1873, is yet unbuilt. In 1857 he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, and now holds liis membership in Mason Lodge, 143. He is also a member of the encampment at Keithsburg, and a member of the Order of the Red Cross organization of Faii'field. Iowa. Mr. Hoisted was married March 28, 1849, to Miss Eveline L., daughter of Ori-in Fenton, Esq., of Cleveland, Ohio. They have one child living. Miss Lottie.

Hugh Smith Scott, farmer, was born in Washington county, Virginia, July 20, 1807, and is the son of Samuel and Jane (Hntton) Scott. He was reared a farmer. His education was received in the pioneer schools of Virginia. September 18, 1828, a few months after obtaining majority he was nnited in marriage with Sarah, daughter of James and Jane (Clark) Lion, also a native of the same county. Soon after marriage they emigrated to Indiana, and settled in Fountain county, remaining there until 1856. In that year they again removed, this time to find a linal resting place in Mercer connty, where he settled on a farm ])reviously purchased of Mr. Gayle. AVhile a resident of Indiana, in 1845, Mr. Scotfs friends put him forward as a candidate on the democratic ticket for representative in the state legislatnre, to which office he was elected by a large ma.iority. As an evidence of his popularity, the towniship in which he resided, that usually gave a democratic majority of about 80, gave him the compliment of 144 majority. He was also twice elected county assessor and once county collector of Fountain county. He has also held numerous other offices of honor and trust, among which have been that of supervisor of Keithsburg township, and also of* justice of the peace for eight years. He has been prominently identified with the Methodist church of Keithsburg since his residence here. Of his large family, Sanniel, .lane, wife of Ro])ert Campbell, of Fountain county, Indiana, Lilburn

Samuel Scott, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of Hugh S. and Sarah (Lion) Scott. He was born in Fountain county, Indiana, Koyember 21, 1829, and was reared principally at farming. He received the best education obtainable in the early schools of his native state. Early in life he made clerking his business for five years, and spent two years in the state auditor's office at Indianapolis. In 1855 he came to Mercer county and engaged in farming, making that his pennanent business. October 1, 1857, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E., daughter of John McH. and Margaret (Cramer) Wilson, a native of Michigan, who came to Mercer county wdien about months old. She was born August 26, 1836. They are the parents of live children, viz : Guy C. , Edgar S. , Carrie W. , John McH. , and Hugh M. Mr. Scott is a member of the masonic fraternit}', and holds his membership in Robert Burns Lodge, Ko. 113. He is a live, energetic business man, and one whom it would be well for om* young men to pattern after.

Mr. C. S. Orth. who was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in 1835, educated at Franklin and Marshall colleges, at Mercersburg, in the. same state, emigrated to Iowa City in 1857; came the next year to Keithsburg where he located in general merchandising in company with N. B. Cox. In 1862 the latter was rei»laced by J. P. Reed, ^ho died in 1866 ; afterward Mr, Oith continued in the same line of trade with M. A. Weaver as partner, and in 1877 he closed up his business in the place. He is now in trade at Bedford and Clarinda, Iowa, but his family reside in Keithsburg. He has been closely identified with the history and devotedly attached to the interests of this place since he settled here, and a public-spirited supporter of every worthy undertaking. He was president of the town board one year, and for seven years fi'om 1874 was a director of the public school, a position in which he won credit and popularity for very efticient and acknowledged valuable services. In the railroad questions which have agitated the people of this section, he has taken a full share of interest and exhibited his well-known vigilance and activity. He has sometimes directed his infiuence and energies against these as well as other enterprises, and time has generally confirmed his judgment and foresight. His marriage with Miss Fanny M., daughter of Abram B. Sheriff, a pioneer settler of Mercer county, took place in 1863. They are the parents of eight living children.

William and Sarah (Gothard) Whiting. His father was a native of Iladnam. England, where he was born June 12, l^il4, and his mother w-as born in the same place June 17, 1815. This couple was joined in marriage May 11, 1833. In 1837 the family emigrated to the United States, in the sailing vessel Neptune, and having settled at Lockport, uS^ew York, Mr. Whiting's father began manufacturing boots and shoes in a small way. By close attention to his trade his business grew into a large manufacturing house in which, after a few years, he employed from thirty to forty men. In 1854 he lost his property by fire, and in October of the same year he brought his family to Mercer county, where he arrived on the 23d of the month. He settled in Keithsburg and died in this place September 26, 1879. His wife preceded him to her final rest January 18, 1877. The subject of this notice remtiined at home with his father and learned the shoemaker's trade. In March, 1855, he also came to Keithsburg w4th his newly-married wife, and at once engaged in the boot and shoe trade, which he has built up to its present prosperous condition. His marriage with Miss Sarah A. Wilson occurred in Lockport, Xew York, . September 7, 1854. She was born at Saratoga May 1, 1835. Mr. Whiting ranks with the foremost and most public spirited men of his township, and his family is justly esteemed for their social qualities and literary tastes.

William L. Range is a son of Christian and Louisa (Block) Range, and was born and reared a Hessian, in -what is now a province of Prussia. His father was a baker by trade, and he was reared to that business. His education was principally obtained in the common schools. September 24, 1858, he was married to Miss Caroline Xagle, a native of the same place. On the 4th of October following they left their native home to seek one in America, and after a perilous voyage of three months on the sailing vessel Aristiezer, landed in New York January 4, 1859. During their last four weeks on the sea they were reduced almost to a point of starvation, the ship having gone out of her course during the terrible storms that prevailed in the early part of the voyage. After landing in Xew York they at once came on to Rock Island, Illinois, where they remained about one year, when they came to Mercer county, and soon after permanently located in Keithsburg and established a bakery and restaurant, making the same their business through life. They are the parents of five children : Karl A. W. C, Lewis W., Emnui A., Eda L., and William F. They are members of the Lutheran Church of Rock Island, where the older ones of the children ha\e been sent to be educated and confirmed.

Dr. Samuel Kkllkv, physician and surgeon, is a native of New Jersey, tlioiigh he was reared in Ohio, his parents moving to Cincinnati wlien he was quite young, lie was born February 17, 1812, and at the age of about twenty began the study of law at Lexington, Kentucky, and was admitted to tlie bar at Lafayette, Indiana, where he had read law for nine months with Hon. John Petit and Hon. Godlove Orth, in 1841. After practicing law a short time he turned his attention to the study of medicine, which he successfully practiced in Oliio and Indiana, the last twelve years prior to 1859 being spent in tlie latter stiite. In Fountain county he was united in marriage with Miss Frances E., daughter of Mr. David Parrott, September 6, 1849. In 1859 Dr. Kelley came to Mercer county, Illinois, where he has continued in the practice of his profession, and has been a citizen of Keithsburg, where he is enjoying the society of his many warm friends. He has one son, Wilber, born in Fountain county, Indiana, October 27, 1858. He is a graduate of the Physicians and Surgeons Medical College of Keokuk, Iowa, where he received his diploma February 28, 1882.

According to well authenticated tradition the Campbells w^ere Scotch Highlanders connected with the House of Argyle. During the ]K'riod of religious persecution they fled to the north of Ireland where John Campbell was born, reared and married, and where to him his children were born. In the spring of 1849 he with his wife Catherine (McKee) emigrated to the L^nited States, sailing in the Gertrude. After landing on the American shores thev at once came on to Illinois, settlino; in Kock Island, where Mr. Campbell died from sun stroke in 1851. Mrs. Campbell died in 1857, lea\'ing a family of eight children. Hugli Campbell, the eldest son, was born in county Down, Ireland, April 7. 1831. Soon after settling in Rock Island he became an apprentice to a wagon and carriage -maker. After completing the trade in isOO he came to Keithsburg with a view of following his trade in this place, which, however, was abandoned at the outbreak of the rebellion in 1861, when he enlisted in company I, 17th 111. Vol. Inf. After following the fortunes of war three years and going safely through a number of hard fought battles he was honorably discharged and returned to Keithsburg, where he permanently settled and engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. October 3, 1807, he was united in nuirriage with Mrs. Mary C. Ball, \\ndow of Lieut. L. T. Ball, of corn j. any II, 84th 111. Vol. Inf., killed in the late war December 31, 18<;2. Mr. Campbell has been for a number of years a member of the city council, and his good judement and thorough business principles have won for him numj warm friends. Two other sons of John Campbell, John and William, are extensive farmers of Otoe county, Nebraska, the latter of whom was elected in 1881 state senator on the republican ticket. Samuel was killed at Atlanta, Georgia. Alexander's sketch appears elsewhere in this work. There were also three daughters : Mary, widow of "William Collins ; Elizabeth, widow of William Walker, who is now the mother of eight sons ; and Jane, wife of Samuel Wamock. The first two are now residents of Nebraska, the last of Kansas, Their father was born August 14, 1799, and their grandfather. Hugh Campbell, September 22, 1755.

Charles A. Mertz, lumber dealer, was born in the kingdom of Bavaria, January 30, 1844. His father died when he was four years old, and in 1854 the widowed mother, taking her little family, came to America in the sailing vessel Magdalin. and settled in Rochester, New York. After a short residence there they went to Wisconsin. In 1861 our subject returned to New York, and in January. 1853, enlisted in company G, 159th N. Y. Yols., being a recruit in that regiment. The first considerable battle in which he was a participant was that of the Wilderness ; then followed in rapid succession Spottsylvania, the North Anna, Paumunky River, Cold Harbor, and the battle in front of Petersburg, up to August 25th, in all of which he was engaged. On the last date he was captured at Reams' station on the Weldon railroad vntii 2,600 others. He was confined first at Petersburg, then removed to Libby prison, and from there to Belle Isle. Li the last two places he spent three months. He was taken next to Salisbury, where he remained till February, 1865, when there began a general perambulation of prisoners in that region of the Confederacy on account of the movements of Gen. Sherman's army. From Salisbury he went to Columbia and stayed there two weeks ; then about as much time was passed in Charleston ; a stop of a few days was made in Raleigh ; and then the detatchment went on to Jamestown, North Carolina, where Mr. Mertz and eight others made their successful escape from a camp of 8,000 by wading neck deep in water past the rebel sentinel and swdmming the rest of the way for a mile. From thence his progress to the Union lines was a repetition of the experience of every escaped prisoner : he was fed and ])iloted by negroes, and he hid and wandered about in racking fear and anxiety for three long weeks, and traveled 240 miles when the squad struck the 16th N. Y. cavalry in the neighborhood of Burkesville Junction, Yirginia. When Mr. Mertz was captured he weighed 165 pounds ; when he got back into the Union camp his weight was 98 pounds. His prison life forms a chapter of thrilling experiences and terrible suffering^*, while he was the helpless witness of the most atrocious diabolism in the treatment of Union prisoners that ever blackened the page of human history. AVlien the 159th was mustered out in May, 1865, Mr. Mertz was transferred to company H, lOth N. Y. Inf., in which he completed his tenn of service and was discharged at New York city in August following. ITe came directly to Mercer county, but shortly after went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania and stayed a little while, after which he went west in the employ of the Union Faciiic Railway Company. In 1871 he returned to this county and settled in Keithsburg, engaging in the furniture trade ^vith C. C. Wordin, the present gentlemanly clerk of the county court. In May, 1880, he embarked in the lumber business with his brother, their place of trade being on the corner Washington and Third streets. Besides a saw-mill here they have another on the Iowa side above New Boston. October 27, 1873, he celebrated his nuj)- tials with Augusta Belle, daughter of 11. G. Calhoun. She was born in Keithsburg, November 29, 1862. They have one child, Ora B., born September 13, 1874. Mr. Mertz is a member of Robert Burns Lodge, No. 113, Illinois Chapter, No. 17, and Galesburg Commandery, No, 8. Lewis L. Mertz, brother of the above, was born also in Bavaria, February 11, 1847, and emigrated to this country with the rest of the family. On February 1, 1864, he enlisted at Rochester, New York, in Battery L, 1st N. Y. Light Artillery, and served until mustered out at Elmira, June 19, 1865. Beginning with the battle of the Wilderness, he fought throughout the campaign following ui> to the surrender of Lee. At the age of twelve he entered the AVoodbury Engine Works, where he learned the trade of an engineer, which he has followed in different ])laces, but }>articularly in the oil regions of Pennsylvania. In December, 1865, he came to Keithsburg and sold furniture with his brother a short while ; in 1867 he engaged with a surveying party on the I'nion Pacitic railway ; in 1868 he went into the gold mines of Montana, where he remained nearly four years. He was married to Miss Janet, daughter of Daniel Keith, July 6, 1871. She was born in this place in September, 1849. They settled on a farm of 320 acres in Boone county, Iowa, and lived there six years. In May, 1880, Mr. Mertz removed with his family to Keithsburg, where he has since been engaged in the furniture and lumber business. He is a Roval Arch ^Mason. His four children are: Sibvl J., Jacob R., William B., Elizabeth M. The father of these brothers was named John J. Mertz, and was a native of Ijavaria, where he was born in the year 1800. In early life he learned the trade of a cooper, but later he became quite wealthy, and engaged in farming. In the Ke volution of 1848, he lost his property by signing with other men, and in the same year died. The mother, IMather Mina (Watchter), born in 1805, has her home with her children in this place.

Dennis Murto, merchant, was born in Sligo county, Ireland, January 1, 1882, and is the third son of a family of six children wliosa father died early in life, leaving them to tlie care of their widowed mother, who soon after sold out her interest there and went to England, where she remained till August 1860. She then came to America, bringing her three daughters. Dennis, the subject of this notice, left England in a full clipper American sailing vessel, the Martha Greenleaf, and after a voyage of nineteen weeks arrived in jSTew Orleans April 4-, 1858. He at onpe pushed on up the Mississippi river to Davenport, Iowa, but soon returned to Oquawka, Illinois, and hired out to work for Mr, C. W. Harris, beginning at $10 per month, and remained for three years. He was also for a short time engaged in driving stage and carrying the mail from Sagetown to Keithsburg. On August 14, 1862, being refused a place in the ranks of the army in the war for the Union, he started for California, from where he returned to Keithsburg in October, 1865, and at once engaged as a day laborer. In 1874, in company with his brother, he began the mercantile business in the grocery line, and in 1880 he become sole owner of his present prosperous business. Besides his town property he owns two good farms in Mercer county. December 6, 1865, he married Miss Bridget Gilrain, a native of Ireland, by whom he has one child, Mary Rose.

Alexander Campbell was born June 22, 1846, in county Down, Ireland, from whence three years later he came with his parents to America and settled in Rock Island, Illinois. In the early part of the late wai', though only sixteen years of age, he enlisted in company D, 11th Iowa Inf.^ and carried a gun three years. At the end of this time he re-enlisted and was chosen color-bearer, and carried the old flag to the end of the war, when he was honorably discharged, having served his country as a soldier four years before he was twenty-one. On the 23d of Jul}^ 1864, in front of Atlanta, his brother Samuel was killed while fighting by his side.. After his return from the war Mr. Campbell came to Keitlisburg and learned the trade of wagon and carriage making, which business he followed until 1878, when he was appointed mail agent on the Clalva and Keithsburg route of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, which position he has since held. December 16, 1870, he was united in marriage with Sarah A., daughter of John and Hannah (Wilson) Nevius, early settlers of Mercer county. She was born in ( )liio, Febrmirv 19, lS-48, but was reared in Keitlisburg. Tliev have a family of live chihh'en : Daisy L., Walter C, Maud G., Mabel N. and Harry L.

Dr. George B. Sapp, dentist, was ])oi'ii in Clermont county, Ohio, July '23, 1832. He received the greater |)art of his education in a log school-house in his native county. In 1854 he came to Illinois. In I860 he began studying in Decatur, where he comj)leted a course of study lie had previously begun. In 18(55 he came to Mercer county and began the practice <^f his profession. The doctor has been twice married. His lirst marriage was in 1860, but death soon deprived him of his partner. His second marriage was on June 22, 1871, to Miss Norah Plesants. They have three chihh'en, whose names in the order of their ages are : Ula, Rosa G., and George B.

John Helwig, butcher, is a son of Christopher Helwig, and was born in Germany December 26, 1839. In 1856 he emigrated with his parents to America, and with them settled in Dunkirk, in the State of New- York, where the most of the family and his parents still reside. In 1868 he came to Illinois and settled in Hancock county, where he remained till 1875, when he came to Keitlisburg and engaged in his present business. Since his residence in Keitlisburg he has been three times elected as one of the town board, and is one of the school directors. He is a member of Mercer Lodge, ]^o. 210, I.O.O.F., and of Encampment No. 89. May 5, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Katharine Hacker, a native of Bavaria. They have four children : John L., Frank W., Lewis A., and Charles.

Charles G. Slocumb, lumber dealer, was born at Albany, Wliiteside county, Illinois, January 1, 1843, and is a son of Mr. Alfred Slocumb, an old and well known settler of that county, who helped to lay out the town of Albany. He died there September 9, 1860, after a life of usefulness and industry. Charles, the subject of this sketch, was reared as most boys in a new country, at hard work, with but limited means of obtaining an education, yet by industry and close ai)plication to study he has acquired a good business education. In 1865 he went into the anny, and after his return home engaged in merchandising at Havana, Mason county, Illinois. This he followed but a short time wdien he sold out and went to Cliii)pewa Falls. Wisconsin, where he engaged in the manufacture of l)rick. wliich he followed about three years. After this he engaged in boating on the Mississii)i)i river. In 1876 he came to Keitlisburg, where he permanently located, and engaged in the lum})er Ijusiness. He also o^\nis a mill here for the manutacture of lumber. March 20, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Maria E. Stephens, of Mount Yernon, Iowa. They have two children : Clyde E. and Maud S. Mr. Slocumb is a member ot*^ Eobert Burns Lodge, ITo. 113, A.F.A.M.

In all professions and occupations there are those who are ' ' fussy, " nervous and bombastic, making great noise over small achievements, while others are quiet, unobtrusive, meritorious workers in whatever sphere they occupy in the world's great drama. Such an one is the subject of this sketch. Dr. John S. Ai.len. He is not old enough to be a pioneer of the country or in his profession, but is performing well the part which he has chosen in life's duties. Dr. Allen is comparatively a young man, having been born in Galesburg, Illinois, Xovember 23,, 1851. He is the seventh son of Sheldon W. and Fidelia (Leach) Allen. The doctor attended the common schools of the city f»f Galesburg, and also Knox College and Lombard University. He also took a coui'se in the Western Business College of the same city. At the age of twentytwo years he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. J. B. Yi^don, of Galesburg, and after a due course of study he attended three terms at Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, and graduated in 1877. He settled in Ivewanee, where he remained but a short time, and then removed to Keithsburg, where he has since remained, doing a line business in his profession. Dr. Allen was married June 20, 1877, to Miss Florence, daughter of H. M. and Jane Condie, of Chicago. They have two children : Harry S. and John L. Dr. Allen is a member of the Order of Odd-Fellows, and is quite an active worker in the interests, of the order. Politically he is a republican, but p^ys more attention to medicine than to politics, and it has been the good fortune of few young professional men to more quickly win the confidence of the majority of the people than Dr. Allen has.

L^vnsing K. Jenne, veterinary surgeon, is a son of John and Sarah (Freeman) Jeime. He was born in Genesee county, jSTew York, June 15, 1820. Xovember 4, 18-10, he was married to Miss Submit Ashley, a native of Ontario county, New York. In about 1850 he removed to. Michigan, and settled near Grand Rapids, where he bought land and made a larni by chopping it out of the green woods. This tiirm he sold, and in 1872 removed to Muscatine, Iowa, where he remained till 1880, when he came to Keithsburg. Early in life he paid some attention to the study of veterinary surgery, and by careful study and good luck has become master of his profession. He is the father of six children, living: jSTewton E., Edward S., Frank F., JolinW., Sarah S., and Lua M.

As we begin the task of writing the first history of this township, knowing tliat ahnost a half centurv lias passed since the first settlement was made within its boundaries bv civilized men, without so much as a diary of incidents and dates being kept of what has transpired, we can but feel that the task is a ditticult one. The resources for data concerning the early settlement has been rapidly decreasing during the later years, till at present only a very small number of the pioneers remain to tell the story. AVere the memory so absolutely perfect that nothing once known could slip away, we could yet exj)ect to pen for the present all things of interest that have transpired in Millersburg township during the past fifty years.

But notwithstanding all the imperfections of memory, enough of the history of Millersburg township remains to impress upon the minds of the rising generation the noble and resolute character of the pioneers who first planted civilization and civilized institutions within its boundaries. Those old pioneers, 'tis true, did not lead great armies like Genghis Khan, or a Napoleon, or Cajsar, devastating whole empires and kingdoms, but they did a noble work - a work that should cro^v^l their memories with the hon(5r of pushing out upon the frontier and lapng the foundations of happy and pleasant homes for those who should come after them, in a wilderness beset with the privations and toils inherent to early settlement of almost every country. Let us seat ourselves by the grassy mound that marks the resting place of their aged dust and study their characters and the part they played in the world's drama, and then ask ourselves these questions : Are they not deserving of all the honors we can heap upon them i Can the gay, festive boy aff<>rd to pass lightly by the character of his now sleeping ancestor, to study the character and lives of those wlio have become eminent in the world's history because of the circumstances which made them? Is there not a lesson for the blithe and lively girl of to-day in the patience of that old grandmother now sweetly sleeping beneath the sod, after so many years of earnest toil, that her granddaughter might live the life of a queen instead of the life of a slave in a desert

There is a lesson for all in the character of these sturdy ])ioneers. whose toiling hands only rested when the angel said: "Kest; your work is done." That lesson can only be learned from the institution* they planted and nurtured till they were called away.

history we are to write. It consists of thirty-six S(|uare miles, bounded the noitli by Duncan township, on the east by Mercer, on the south by Abington, and on the west by Xew Boston.

Let us iniayine ourselves near the center of this tract of country, looking around us from some high eminence, a half century ago. Almost at our feet is the Edwards riyer, quietly mo^-ing along to join the father of waters, flowing almost directly west across the to^ynship. On either side it is almost inyariably fringed with narrow, fiat bottoms overgrown with forest trees, and hedged in by abrupt bluffs reachingf to the height of sixty, and sometimes eie^htv. feet. Casting our eye to the northwest we can see the forest undulations, like the billows of an angry sea, where breaks of Camp creek and those of the Edwards river meet. This last-named stream flows southwest across sections 5 and 7. The Edwards makes a sharp curve on sections 8 and 9, approaching almost to within one mile of the north line of the township. Looking to the northeast of the township we see the undulations growing smaller and smaller, until they present almost a straight line on the horizon ; this is partly timber and the rest prairie. Turning to the south, a beautiful landscape meets the eye. The tall, waving grass marks the gentle undulations of the land on the south and southeast ; on the southwest the breaks of Pope creek extend north of the south' line about one mile. What were at first low sags, extending back from the streams, receiving quietly the water exuding from the upland and bearing it on without a ripple, have now grown in many places into deep gulches, growing deeper with each freshet. At the time of the first white settlement the Indians of this part of the state had been conquered and most of tliem were gone. Could we have stood here fifty years ago, looking down into the Edwards river as it rolled gently along, we would have realized that the red men who once in awhile come to "sdew the hunting-grounds of their fathers and visit the graves of their kindred are almost the only visitors to this locality. The deer, the wolf, the wild duck, the jn-airie chicken and the sand-hill ci-ane sport upon the banks, watching the fish as they play in its jdacid waters, without fear of being molested even by the skulking red man whom they had been accustomed to see creeping down the ravine, through the tall grass, to surprise them in their haunts. These were balmy days for these inhabitants, of so many different species. The red man of the forest had taken up his march in the direction of the setting sun, to make room for the industrious settler who was soon to follow, taking nothing with him but his wigwam and weapons.

so must these motley, but interesting- ami lia])py groups .of binls and move out and give place to the domesticated of their kind. . Of the man (»f the forest but few traces of his haunts or works remain, save a few mounds on section 4. The section is well timbered with oak, hickory, walnut and other kinds of forest trees. (.)f so great anti(|uity are these mounds that the forest trees nsing from their summits compare in size and age with those of the surrounding forest. These mounds are from three to six feet high. Froin some of them have been taken tomahawks of stone, arrow heads, human bones, which nature's forces had not yet reduced to common clay, and other trinkets. To us here is the history of a race unwritten so far as we can tell, save by the implements they buried with their dead. Of the lower orders of the early inhabitants few remain, and tliev ]ir)ke through hedge and wood to escape the hunter and his dog.

The whole scene is now changed. The northwest quarter, which was originally all timber, is now partly cut oif, and herds of cattle and sheep dot its hills and sloi)es. Looking to the northeast quarter, beautiful farms of waving tields of wheat and growing corn, with here and there a forest grove, meet the eye. Turning to that part of the township south of the Edwards, the fields of tall and waving wild grass have disappeared, in lieu of which we now behold beautiful farms, with cozy dwellings, inhabited by a prosperous people. This section of the township for all agricultural purposes cannot be excelled in the county; nor can the part north of tlie Edwards be excelled for line stock farms.

It will not be out of phlce to drop a few remarks as to the character of the pioneers, for the character of history <lepends upon that of the men who made it. The greater part of the pioneers and early settlers who located in Millersburg township were from Pennsylvania and Ohio, a few coming from Virginia, some from Ireland, some from NeV York and Kentucky, with now and then a settler from some other quarter of civilization. But, remarkable as it may seem, they belonged for the most part to the same class of scx'iety. They were people of small means, whose object in coming to the western wilds was to procure for themselves and their families homes which their means would not ])rocure where tliev were reared. Tiiey were of that industrious and economical class who had not oidy been reared under the influence of Christianity, but had been taught to obey its jirecepts from a high sense of moral honor and dignity. Like the Puritan fathers, they were scarcely housed in their cabins before they . began to erect school-houses and churches, the same building being used for both purposes. Owing to their proximity to their neighbors on the Mississippi, they endured less privations and hardships than did the colonists who came over in the Mayflower ; but they were men and women who possessed no less courage and earnestness for the principles wliich had been taught them under the paternal roof. Had it been theirs to exercise that stubborness to the edicts of kings and priests in defense of human rights, as it was that of the pilgrim fathers, they would haye proved equally indomitable and immoyable. It has been remarked that men die, are buried, and even their graves are lost ; but their influence, like the stains of human gore, cannot be removed from the coummunity where they resided. This, we must admit, is true of Millersburg township ; ita society is pushing along in the direction laid out by its lirst settlers. The township is divided into two geographical divisions by the Edwards river. Between the early settlers of each there was but littlecommunication, because of there being no bridges across this stream. Settlements were made in the township both north and south of the river about the same time in the fall of 1834. The flrst families ta locate south of the river were Harrison Itiggs, Ebenezer Creswell and Edward Willitts. The flrst located on section 30, and erected the fii'st cabin in the township ; his wife, Mrs. Julette Riggs, still resides upon the same fann where she and her husband flrst located, and where she is patiently waiting the summons that shall call her to a world with less privations and cares. The second, Ebenezer Creswell, located on section 21, where he built a saw-mill in 1834 or 1835. This was on Camp creek and was the flrst mill in the township. The Willitts family located on the same section as did Creswell. Among others who came sliortly after were : Thomas Riggs in 1836, on section 25 ; Rice Peckingbaugh, on section 21, in 1840 ; Charles Griflith, on section 16, in 1839, where he yet resides ; Isaac Burson, on section 20, in 1837 ; W. Hubbard, on section 32, in 1836 ; Edward Brady, Sr., in 1842 ; John T. McGinnis, in 1846 ; Richard and John S. Kidoocame in 1845 ; AVilliam Kidoo and his father came in 1847 ; John and Edward Brady came in 1842 ; Peter Spangler, Thomas Jackson and others came about 1840, and located south of the Edwards. Thus was civilized society planted in Millersburg on the south of the river. North of the Edwards the flrst settler located was Benijah Lloyd, on section 5, in 1834. Two years later the town of Millersburg was laid out by the Miller brothers, who had previously settled in another township, about 1834. Among those who located in and around the new town were : H. "W. Thornton, in 1836 ; James Thompson, in

Millersburg Townshii'

1838 ; Esq. Routzong, in 1838 ; Erastus, AVilliam :in<l Joseph Denison came prior to 18-1:0 ; Judge Gilmore came about 1838, and afterward moved south of the river opposite where tlie Peniel church now stands. All of these located either in the village of Millersburg or near by. I. M. Gilmore located east of the village about 1840 ; L. B. Howe, Thomas Brighton, Elbridge Howe, W. A. Bridgford and his son, O. A. Bridgford, came about 1840. These and a few others were the pioneers who located in the north part of the townshijt during the period of its early settlement. William Cline was an settler and great hunter ; his brother. Christian Cline, located in Millersburg.

From 1840 to 1855 the township settled ra])idly, and but little land was left unoccupied. . For the names and history of many of those families, reference may be had to the biographical department of this township. Millersburg township was one of the first to be settled away from the Mississipj^i river. It now seems a short journey to the river, but it must be remembered that half a century ago there were no laid out roads across the country and the streams were without bridges. Then the only products that would bring money or could be exchanged for the necessities of life, were wheat and pork, and these must be transported to the river towns ; nor was this all : there were but few wagons in the country. Sleds were used in summer as well as in winter. Previous to the settlements in Millersburg, only three or four years, the Indians had control of all the country away from the river to Rock Island. Till about 1840 the settlers saw hard times. Their products, wheat and pork, were exchanged at low figures for goods at enormous prices. Many were dependent on credit. But economy and industry, such as the settlers of Millersburg possessed, in such a country of rich land, was soon to overcome the various impediments which then beset her people. The country was wild and the health of the people was not good. Chills and fevers were sure visitors, and not unfrequently permanent inmates of the pioneer homes. With the imj^rovement of health and circumstances, many who had found it difficult to get the benefit of the merchant's credit, established for themselves a better credit than those whose credit they had sought ever had. At the present time some of the most wealthy citizens of the township are those who had hard work to keep the wolf from their door.

The manners and customs of the early settlers and ])ioneers were those of a plain but honest people. They were social among themselves and hospitable to strangers. Their houses were small and their food coarse, but welcome to all. Each settler's neighborhood might be

The entertainments, such as the people now enjoy, were few and far between, and they amused themselyes in hunting the wolf, which then could be lieard upon eyery eleyation and hollow. The last great hunt of this kind came off in 1840. A large tract of country was suiTOunded. The point for meeting was southeast of Millersburg, north of the Edwards. Two hundred deer were corralled in the ring, but the wol yes made good their escape. The deer, which at this time were plenty, disappeared almost entirely between 1844 and 1850. Early settlers were annoyed greatly by the wolyes. When they killed fresh meat the wolyes would come around the house, set up a dismal, heartrending howl, and eyen skip about oyer the roof, but they were so sly that one was seldom killed.

Among the early settlers came a few who delighted to spend their time in hunting and fishing, and others who looked upon horse-racing and other kindred amusements as the highest calling of humanity. These, like the red man, could not endure the telling blows and prosperity of the more ciyilized habits and customs which predominated, and haye long since disappeared from among the citizens of Millersburg township.

Mrs. Julette Riggs, the pioneer settler, now Hying on section 30, had great anxiety to see an Indian baby. She called at a hut near by and implored the inmates to bring the little red skin out that she might examine it, but the mother was not so desirous of exhibiting her offspring as her palefaced sisters seem to be, and coldly imformed Mrs. Ricrcrs if she desired to satisfy her curiosity she must come in, and in she went. William Drury, when he first came to the settlement south of the Edwards, says Mrs. liiggs was exceedingly hungry for meat, Mrs. liiggs being out of that article at the time. Drury went coon hunting and caught seyeral coons, which he had cooked, and they were eaten by him with the remark, ''They are superior to mutton in flayor and taste."

Almost with the early settlers of Mercer county there was formed a company of bandits, sui)posed to haye their rendezyous in the northeast of- Mercer and the south part of Rock Island counties, which greatly alarmed the settlers of Millersburg township, especially at such times as they had receiyed any money. The story is told us of Joseph King, liying near Millersburg at that time, haying received $700. He could not secrete it in his i)Ockets, as it was in gold and silver, and there were no banks in the country. lie was so scared that he would not even carry it home, but u'ave it to a friend, who took it home for him. His uneasiness did Jiot cease here. lie cleaned up his fowlingpiece and stood guard till he could invest his money, which having been done he remarked, "Money is a good thin'g to have, but a source of pleasure to be rid of when one feels unsafe."

The tirst death that occurred in the township was in 1835. While Bcnijah Lloyd was on his way to his claim on section 4, his son, nearly seven years old, fell out C)f the wagon and was run over by the wheels, killing him instantly. There were no neighbors to assist in the funeral except Ebenezer Ci'eswell and his hired man. The remains were interred at the new home on section -i. We have been told by good authority that Benijah Lloyd was the first to settle in Millersburg township, and equally good authority informs us that Hiram Hardy, Albert P. Taylor (at one time sheriff of the county, at another county clerk) and Ebenezer Creswell were here before him.

Alfred Gray, a wagonmaker by trade, and John Jackson, a blacksmith, who had a shoj) near where Joy is now located, were, we have reason to believe, the first tradesmen of this kind in the townshii).

The early settlers used to go to Bald Blufl" (now Henderson county) for medical aid. Benijah Lloyd thinks the first physician to locate in the township was Dr. Martin Willitts, at Millersburg. Another early physician was Dr. Daniel Pickley, an early sheriff of the county. The first preaching Mr. Lloyd remembers of in the township was at the house of Abraham Miller, by a preacher from (John) Farlow's Grove, named James, a predestinarian Baptist.

Millersburg township has two villages, Millersburg and Joy. The former is the oldest laid-out town in the county back from the river, and has a history connected with the county second to none in importance. It was laid out in 1836 by John Miller, after whom the town and township was named. Of the Miller family there were John, George, Abraham, Isaac, and Philip, who were brothers, and Abraham, Jr., son of George. Abraham, Jr., is now living in Oregon. The Millers came to Mercer county from Indiana (they were formerly from Tennessee), and located in Peri'vton at Sugar Grove in 1834. Abraham, Jr., was one of the first county clerks of Mercer countv. There is not one of the familv living in the countv at this time. The family was remarkable for their love of pioneer life, and the remaining members, when the country here became settled, moved west.

scarcely be said to be even sparsely settled. Abraliam Miller, Jr., is said to have built the first dwelling-h(?use inside the corporation. James Thompson and William Drurv soon after erected the first storeroom and sold the first goods. In 1S38 Erastus Denison erected the first hotel. The buildmg is still standing. It is a two-storv frame. The lower storv is now used for a store-room. The upper is occupied by the LO.O.F. lodge. William Pinckney established a pottery here in 1837 or 1838. The first doctor to locate in the town was Martin Willitts. Among the first attorneys to locate in the town was H. W. Thornton, who has retired from the law practice and now lives on his farm adjoining the village. The first blacksmith shop located here was erected by Thomas Biglow about 1836 or 1837. The fii-st postoflice was established at Millersburg in 1837 or 1838, and mail was received twice a week. William Drurv was the first commissioned postmaster. As early as 1839 Millersburg had grown to quite a ^-illage.

The county seat was located here as early as 1836. Courts were held in the hotel till the court-house was completed, which was in 1839. The building is a two-story frame, still standing, and is now occupied by Harrison Bethuram as a wagon and blacksmith shop. The building was when built not only a spacious edifice, but fine, for the time ; now it is a dilapidated structure, presenting every appearance of the ravaging hand of time. It was used till 1847 as the oflice of justice. For several years it was the school-house and church of the town. It stood formerly on the south side of Main street, toward the west end of the town. AVhen the countv seat was moved from Millersburs: in 1847, H. W. Thornton bought the court-house and moved it to its present location on the south side of the ^dllage. He converted it into a store-room. A jail was erected about the same time. It was a stone structure lined upon the inside with heavy timbers. The first prisoner who became its inmate, had borrowed a horse and failed to return as «oon as was expected, hence a warrant was procured and A. P. Taylor, who was then sherifl:', set out towards New Boston in search of his game. The sherift' met the man on his way back to Millersburg with the horse. Pie, true to his olfice oath, arrested the man, brought him to Millersburg and lodged him in the jail. But the inhabitants of the town were scarcely wrapped in slumber profound before the prisoner made his escape. All were confident he had no intention of stealing the animal, and no attempt was made for his re-arrest. The second and last person lodged in the building was held prisoner for debt. He enjoyed his meals at the hotel, aiul ^\-as liL-ard to remark that he preferred the lodging and board of the county to that of his own home. He has since become quite well ofli" and now resides in the county.

Tlie jail was used most of the time bv the slieriff tor a granary and fodder-house. Sheritf Taylor remarked it ouglit to be ])ut to some use. It was located on the north side of Main street, a Itttle west of where the court-house stood.

The tirst wagon shop erected in the town of Millersburg was that of A. P. and Asa G. Shafer in 1856. The former still carries on the business in the same old shop. Tlien there was no shop of this kind nearer than New Boston. The second was built by Cri}ipin and Powers in 1857, the next bv McGlathlin and Jones in 1859, the fourth bv James Gilmore in 1861, the tifth bv J. H. Lonjjjshore about 1)S62. The last is running a shop doing all kinds of repairing in his line.

The first death in the town was by sijicide. The person was a married lady. She deliberately took a handkerchief, put it around her neck and choked herself to death bv takino; hold of two of the corners with her bands and pulling till she closed the air passage to the lungs.

From the laying out of Millersburg till after the county seat was removed, it was the best business point, outside of Keithsburg and New Boston, in the countv. The countrv trade came here fi'om the east for a distance of fifteen miles. But as other towns sprang up in different parts of the countrv the trade was divided, and when the county seat was taken away the trade that came here because of the county seat went elsewhere. The unnatural attraction which had brought the business to this point was gone, and Millersburg was cut short in the zenith of her prosperity, and many of her business men went elsewhere. The improvements that have been made here since 1857 are few beyond a few cozy dwellings. But notwithstanding the antiquated appearance of the village, it has a good local trade. It has two stores of general merchandise, one kept by AV. W. Egbert, the other by John Farran, two blacksmith shops, one grocery store kept by David T. Howe, one barber shop, one shoe shop, one harness shop, one hotel, kept by "William Dunn. The creamery erected here in 1881, by Strattan, is the leading business of the village. It is run by a foin- horse-power engine, and uses the Elgin cream \ats. Its full working capacity is 15,000 pounds of butter per day, and gives emj)loyment to twenty men and fifteen teams.

Tlie first and only mill ever erected in the town was built by Steven Strattan about 1850, and run till 1875, when it was torn down and moved south of Millersburg, on the Edwards, and water power is used instead of steam. Since the establishing of the postoffice here, with William Drnry as first postmaster, the foll<»wing ])ersons have had the otfice : James Thom]»son, Dr. Allen, 11. AV. Thornton, J. M. 1:3

Nevans, William H. Green and his wife (]\Irs. Green held the office for fifteen years, and was postmistress durinti: tlie war), -J. D. Strattan and John Farran, who is present postmaster. Mail is received twice each day.